AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RELATED STORIES Australian PGA Championship home page Australian PGA Championship Preview Round 1: Han leads by four and "in heaven" after opening 62 Round 2: Griffin goes clear as Han fall back into pack Round 3: Allenby one ahead in pursuit of fourth title Round 4: Allenby cruises Route 66 to fourth title Final Scores & Prize Money In-form Allenby part of star-studded season closer Injury sidelines Couples and Singh Korean and Chinese pros head 'Down Under' 2010 OneAsia schedule released Vijay Singh to contest Australian PGA title Geoff Ogilvy to defend Australian PGA title MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Han Will Speak At IHT Sports Summit Volvik Agree With Asian Tour Over Sponsorship Memories Inspire Rai In Singapore Break Gives Mamat Route To Success Singapore Classic Welcomes Kia Motors PGA Malaysia Moves To OneAsia CCM Extends Sponsorship Of Impian Masters Faldo To Play In Pro-Am In Cambodia

 Event Preview - In-form Allenby part of star-studded season closer

Three-time champion Robert Allenby is in the star-studded line up at this week’s Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, OneAsia’s final event of the year. The event is being held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from December 10-13.

The world number 26 finished sixth with Stuart Appleby at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China a fortnight ago, and then travelled to South Africa to win the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in a thrilling playoff with Henrik Stenson last week.

The 38-year-old Australian announced his intention to play the season-ending US$1.2 million Australian PGA Championship in a show of support after the late withdrawal of Vijay Singh, the three-time Major champion.

“Following the withdrawal of Vijay, I spoke with my wife Sandy and we both felt it would be a good idea to add one more event to a busy end-of-year schedule,” said Allenby, who claimed the Australian PGA Championship title in 2000, 2001 and 2005.

“The family love coming to the Hyatt Coolum and if I can help the Championship a little, we both felt it would be a good thing to do.”

Following a steady year playing the US PGA Tour with eight top-25 finishes including three top 10s, Allenby would like nothing more than to add a fourth Australian PGA Championship title to his name.

“I’ve had a fairly consistent 2009 without winning,” Allenby said. “To come back to a venue I know well might just be the confidence boost I need to take another step forward next year.”

Max Garske, CEO of the PGA of Australia, said: “As a multiple past champion, Robert has shown a great loyalty to the PGA Championship and we’re thrilled he has chosen to finish his season at our flagship event.

“Rob comes to the Championship with great memories of past success and we’re confident golf fans can look forward to a sensational season finale as he, along with our top Aussie players and international visitors, battle it out for the 2009 title.”

Currently the second-highest world-ranked Australian player behind defending champion Geoff Ogilvy, Allenby will line up next week alongside compatriots including Mathew Goggin, Adam Scott, Rod Pampling, John Senden, Stuart Appleby and young guns Michael Sim, James Nitties, Jarrod Lyle and Marc Leishman.

Overseas stars include Americans John Daly and Steve Marino while Li Chao, the two-time China Tour Order of Merit winner, and last year’s money-list winner Liao Guiming are among the leading lights from China. A 29-strong contingent from the Korean Tour includes five players from the top 15 on the Order of Merit, led by third-placed Lee Seong-ho, a two-time winner this year.

The Australian PGA Championship is the final event on the Australasian Tour and OneAsia calendars for 2009, ensuring the respective Order of Merit winners for both circuits will be crowned in Queensland next week.

This year’s inaugural OneAsia season teed off with April’s Volvo China Open won by Australian Scott Strange, followed by September’s Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open won by Bae Sang-moon and October’s Midea China Classic won by Liang Wenchong.

December 8, 2008